Director, Donor Communications

The Alzheimer’s Association home office seeks a Director, Donor Communications to lead the vision, strategy, and execution of compelling philanthropic communications that inspire, engage, and steward the Association’s most committed donors. Serving as both a strategic leader and a hands-on content creator, this role shapes the messaging that fuels transformational philanthropy and produces high-caliber materials that advance the organization’s mission.

Reporting to the Senior Director, Donor Relations, the Director partners closely with colleagues across Relationship Development and the broader Association to articulate funding priorities, demonstrate philanthropic impact, and elevate the donor experience nationwide. Success in this role requires exceptional writing and storytelling ability, collaborative leadership, and a deep understanding of donor motivations within high-level philanthropy.

The Relationship Development team raises over $150 million annually through the work of major gift, planned giving, foundation relations, relationship events, prospect research, communications, and stewardship professionals.

This is a hybrid position based in the Chicago area. Cover letter required. Please include writing samples or links to prior work with your applications.

Essential Job Functions

Strategic Leadership & Planning

• Design and implement a comprehensive donor communications strategy to support cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship across the Association’s highest-level philanthropic partners.
• Develop messaging frameworks, narrative arcs, and communication calendars tailored to priority donor segments and other strategic audiences.
• Serve as a thought leader and collaborative partner to major gifts, planned giving, relationship events, foundation relations, and the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM), advising on communication approaches and donor engagement strategy.
• Strategically manage and maintain the Donor Communications budget.
• Supervise a full time staff member and help to grow and lead Donor Communications team.

Content Development & Editorial Direction

• Act as lead writer/editor for high-impact materials including briefings, publications, proposals, collateral, articles, newsletters, impact reports, digital content, solicitation letters and more.
• Lead the development of high-level donor event materials—including run-of-show scripts, talking points, keynote remarks, impact videos, program books, and onsite donor engagement assets—to ensure a cohesive and inspiring donor experience.
• Direct the development, production and distribution of all donor-facing collateral, including videos and digital assets.
• Oversee editorial strategy and content creation for ALZ Forward and other communications for Zenith Society and Aspire Society members.
• Support leadership communications by producing presentations, speeches, and tailored donor correspondence.
• Ensure all materials make a compelling case for philanthropic partnership, clearly demonstrate impact, and meaningfully recognize donors and volunteers.
• Special projects as assigned.

Collaboration & Cross-Functional Partnership

• Partner with leaders across Care & Support, Medical & Scientific Relations, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and other divisions to maintain accurate, timely language on funding priorities and opportunities.
• Coordinate with Marketing Communications to ensure alignment with brand standards and editorial style.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Humanities, or related field preferred; advanced degree a plus.
• 8-10+ years of progressive nonprofit communications experience, ideally within an academic medical center, voluntary health association, scientific research environment, or similarly complex institution.
• Ideal candidate possesses 5+ years of experience developing content for high-net-worth donor audiences and a deep understanding of donor motivations and expectations.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, with experience managing and inspiring staff or cross-functional teams.
• Exceptional writing, editing, verbal communication, and storytelling skills with the ability to translate complex, including scientific, ideas into compelling narratives.
• Proven ability to plan and manage multiple projects independently, meet deadlines, and drive work from concept to completion.
• Demonstrated experience producing high-quality collateral across print, digital, and multimedia formats; proficiency with communications tools preferred (e.g., Ovrture, Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, ThankView)
• Experience with responsible use of AI to develop communications is a plus.
• Creative, solutions-oriented thinker who excels at synthesizing information and developing clear, donor-centered messaging.
• Understanding of a federated nonprofit structure and ability to work collaboratively across functions and departments preferred.
• Mastery of digital platforms, content strategy, and social media best practices.
• High attention to detail and commitment to excellence; thrives in a fast-paced environment.
• Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends as required.

Title: Director, Donor Communications

Position Location: Hybrid/Based in the Chicago area

Full time 

Position Grade & Compensation: Grade 511  The Alzheimer's Association’s good faith expectation for the salary range for this role is between $120,000 -$150,000)

This position is eligible for a bonus based on both individual and organizational performance, up to 6%

Reports To:  Senior Director, Donor Relations /Relationship Development

Who We Are:

The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia– by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support.

The Alzheimer’s Association announced a landmark $100 million investment in research for 2023. This unparalleled commitment is illustrative of the momentum we are building in dementia research — our investments today will lead to breakthroughs tomorrow.

At the Alzheimer’s Association, our employees are at the core of all we do. Our network of more than 1,900 employees across the United States makes a difference each and every day for those impacted by Alzheimer’s and those at risk for the disease.

We warmly invite qualified applicants to consider this opportunity to make a life-changing impact on the millions living with Alzheimer’s, their caregivers and those that may develop the disease in the future. Read on to learn more about the role, then visit our website www.alz.org/jobs to explore who we are and why we've been recognized as a Best Place to Work for the last twelve years in a row.

At the Alzheimer's Association®, we believe that diverse perspectives are critical to achieving health equity — meaning that all communities have a fair and just opportunity for early diagnosis and access to risk reduction and quality care. The Association is committed to engaging underrepresented and underserved communities and responding with resources and education to address the disproportionate impact of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

 The Alzheimer’s Association commitment remains steadfast in engaging all communities in our full mission. The Association provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment to the fullest extent required by law, including, but not limited to, on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, gender identity, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected characteristic.

Employees working 24 hours/week or more are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, flex accounts, short and long-term disability, life insurance, long term care insurance, tuition reimbursement, generous Paid Time Off, 12 annual holidays and Paid Family Leave, as well as an annual Cultural & Heritage Day and Volunteer Day of their choosing. They are also eligible for our gold standard 401(k) retirement plan. Please click HERE for more information.

Full time employees (37.5 hours/week), will enjoy all of the above plus an annual School Visitation Day and an Elder Care Facility Day of their choosing.